5 Ways to Pursue Peace to show the World the Love of God

The TV blared the sounds of a violence and cries of the hurting. A knot of anxiety and grief  began to tighten inside my chest as the unsettling news of the day continued.

How can peace be known in this world of turmoil? How can peace be known by you, as an inhabitant of this planet earth?

Carl Sagan, an American astronomer and astrophysicist, said:

“Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark”.  His scientific mind holds the view ” In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.”  (from Pale Blue Dot)

Jesus Christ, the son of God and Savior, said:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.        John 14:27 NLT

Jesus comforts his disciples, in John 14, before His capture and crucifixion. He explains how the sightless and loveless world  (v 23-14 MSG) is clueless in realizing the reality of God’s True love. Love that will be proved on the cross,  so it is necessary that Jesus must “go away”(v28).

He promises they will not be lonely (v18) but will be lovingly comforted and helped by the presences of “Advocate, the Holy Spirit” that will later be “in them” (v16-17).

This “pale blue dot”, called the earth, is not a “lonely” speck but a lovely creation of a divine creator that desires for us all to “join” and be one with Him. Mr. Sagan was blind, unaware of the powerful presence of God, through Christ, in the souls of all believers. This bond, a joining of God to believing souls, is the essence of  peace in the world.

Peace is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible. It is a major intention of God to give His people peace. Peace that is proved by His love.

“To make one, to join, to bind”, are descriptions of the Greek definition of peace (eirene) in the New Testament. In the Old Testament peace is the word shalom which means to be “well, rest, safe, completed, wholly”.

God’s love has joined us to His Holiness to be Wholly in His Peace.

Through out the Bible it was God’s desire for his people to experience the ” peace” (rest, quietness and harmony) of the presence of God  The story in Exodus was about God’s rescue of His people:

 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.  Exodus 19:4

He “brought” them to himself, to be joined with Him, the creator. They were never abandon in the wilderness. His love provided for them.

God provided for us His son the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  The “Wonderful Counselor”, “Immanuel”  (God with us) and Savior came to earth making the way to allow us to be brought to and  joined with God the Father. Jesus prayed:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. ²² “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.  John 17:20-23 NLT

The “gift of peace” born out a loving Father embeds His divine love into us. We choose to respond to God’s love when we extend His love to others by our actions. It is a dynamic combination! God’s love in us, then we love the world empowered by the peace we have in the Father.  His love empowers our love. We are vessels of His peace on earth.

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.  Romans 12:9 (MSG)

Next verse…

Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

Which is similar to what David said in Psalms 85:8

I will listen to God the Lord. He has ordered peace for those who worship him.
    Don’t let them go back to foolishness. (Psalms 85:8 NCV)

We have a choice to continue to pursue peace, to produce love or wander aimlessly, loosing our path toward peace. The following Hymn found in Divine Hours Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime (pg 362) gives guidance on how to choose with intention.

The second verse reads:

In your hearts, enthrone Him; there, let Him subdue                                                                                All that is not holy, all that is not true:                                                                                                          May your voice entreat Him in temptation’s hour:                                                                                    Let His will enfold you in its light and power.      by C Noel

Enthrone and entreat God and He will enfold you with His light and power.

Pursuing peace requires this kind of engagement of the heart, soul and mind. There are 5 things we can choose to do each day to heighten our pursuit of peace. We must be:

P resent in the moment

Focus on today letting go of fixing the past and future. Look for God – enthrone

E xpose existing fears

Release the fears to Him – entreat 

A ppreciate life’s blessings 

See the world with eyes of gratitude – enthrone

C ontent with circumstances

Focusing on the moment, releasing fears to Him while appreciating His provision creates an attitude of contentment –  being enfolded

E ngaged in loving actions

The results of enthroning and entreating Him, opening our hearts to His enfolding, empowers our peace producing actions of love.-enthrone, entreat, enfold, engage

We must engage with the world extending the love of God. Peace on earth begins with us, God’s beloved children living out His love.

When I experience the peace of God within my soul – the knot is dissolved, replaced with a feeling of openness and warmth. Thank you Lord for you faithful love!

Listen to the song below as the words are read. Pursue the peace of God, listen for Him, He is alive!

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
by MercyMe

Album: The Christmas Sessions
by MercyMe

I heard the bells on Christmas Day